Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. One bird on a nest.
Sarah K Schoen
Population and community ecology, foraging biology, conservation, biogeography, animal behavior, food webs, and experiential education.
Professional Experience
2022 – Present Biologist - U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2012 – 2022 Wildlife Biologist - U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2009 – 2012 Wildlife Biologist - Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Juneau, AK
2005 – 2006 Research Technician - Zoology - Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Anchorage, AK
2004 – 2005 Environmental Scientist - HDR Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK
Education and Certifications
M.S. 2008 Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID Biology
B.A. 2004 Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA Biology/Environmental Studies
Affiliations and Memberships*
Member, Pacific Seabird Group
Member, Kittlitz's Murrelet Technical Committee
Member, The Wildlife Society
Science and Products
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are the media items associated with this project.
![Black-legged Kittiwakes sitting on the side of a rock wall in Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BLKI_colony_CookInlet_8-19-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=6Qd1DT1K)
Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. One bird on a nest.
![Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Alaska. One murre looking at camera.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0580ed.jpg?itok=S6Rd70wv)
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One murre looking at camera.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One murre looking at camera.
![Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Alaska. Four murres have bills open. One sitting on egg.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0649ed.jpg?itok=RCPrMZdH)
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Four murres have bills open. One sitting on egg.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Four murres have bills open. One sitting on egg.
![Four Common Murres sitting on rocks at breeding colony on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One is sitting on an egg.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0674edit.jpg?itok=VS0J_Zu2)
Four Common Murres sitting on rocks at breeding colony on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One is sitting on an egg.
Four Common Murres sitting on rocks at breeding colony on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One is sitting on an egg.
![Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Adult touching bill to chick.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/COMU_CookInlet_8-19-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=eH2AS2AC)
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
![A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Schoen_TUPU1.jpg?itok=NULCOpNK)
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea near Gull Island in Lower Cook Inlet , Alaska
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea near Gull Island in Lower Cook Inlet , Alaska
![Scientist holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BrianRobinson_HerringDipNet_CookInlet_7-20-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=rJH9Xf1L)
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
![A Black-legged Kittiwake with a herring in it's mouth](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BLKI_with_fish_7-20-2017_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=rq-kbqVe)
Black-legged Kittiwake with a herring in it's bill. These seabirds were foraging near Gull Island in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwake with a herring in it's bill. These seabirds were foraging near Gull Island in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
![Black-legged Kittiwakes diving into the water to catch small fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BLKI_Foraging_CookInlet_7-19-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=HNvvhcrO)
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
![Two birds in the rocks, one with fish in it's mouth](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/COMU_Juv_Pac_herring_colony_Cook_Inlet_7-3-2017_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=tHhWua55)
A Common Murre holding a juvenile Pacific Herring at its colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 3, 2017.
A Common Murre holding a juvenile Pacific Herring at its colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 3, 2017.
![Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0577ed.jpg?itok=-zpJYC7v)
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
An emaciated Common Murre lays on the laboratory table during a necropsy to determine the cause of death for a massive die-off of murres in 2015/2016.
An emaciated Common Murre lays on the laboratory table during a necropsy to determine the cause of death for a massive die-off of murres in 2015/2016.
![Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/DSC_1302ed_0.jpg?itok=ueaEM1h8)
Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
![Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/DSC_7885edit_0.jpg?itok=qLSIR6w2)
Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
![A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on small fish in the water](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/flock_Black-legged_Kittiwakes_7-23-2016_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=txh5CLxW)
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
![Four birds standing on a ledge of rock](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/COMU_edge_of_colony_Cook_Inlet_7-23-2016_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=Uemk8uA7)
Common Murres stand at the edge of their colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 23, 2016.
Common Murres stand at the edge of their colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 23, 2016.
Large amount of Common Murres in the water
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
Below are the publications associated with this project.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Below are news items associated with this project.
Science and Products
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are the media items associated with this project.
![Black-legged Kittiwakes sitting on the side of a rock wall in Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BLKI_colony_CookInlet_8-19-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=6Qd1DT1K)
Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. One bird on a nest.
Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. One bird on a nest.
![Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Alaska. One murre looking at camera.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0580ed.jpg?itok=S6Rd70wv)
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One murre looking at camera.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One murre looking at camera.
![Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Alaska. Four murres have bills open. One sitting on egg.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0649ed.jpg?itok=RCPrMZdH)
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Four murres have bills open. One sitting on egg.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Four murres have bills open. One sitting on egg.
![Four Common Murres sitting on rocks at breeding colony on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One is sitting on an egg.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0674edit.jpg?itok=VS0J_Zu2)
Four Common Murres sitting on rocks at breeding colony on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One is sitting on an egg.
Four Common Murres sitting on rocks at breeding colony on Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One is sitting on an egg.
![Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Adult touching bill to chick.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/COMU_CookInlet_8-19-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=eH2AS2AC)
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
![A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Schoen_TUPU1.jpg?itok=NULCOpNK)
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea near Gull Island in Lower Cook Inlet , Alaska
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea near Gull Island in Lower Cook Inlet , Alaska
![Scientist holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BrianRobinson_HerringDipNet_CookInlet_7-20-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=rJH9Xf1L)
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Brian Robinson holding a herring dip net of forage fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
![A Black-legged Kittiwake with a herring in it's mouth](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BLKI_with_fish_7-20-2017_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=rq-kbqVe)
Black-legged Kittiwake with a herring in it's bill. These seabirds were foraging near Gull Island in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwake with a herring in it's bill. These seabirds were foraging near Gull Island in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
![Black-legged Kittiwakes diving into the water to catch small fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BLKI_Foraging_CookInlet_7-19-17_SarahSchoen.jpg?itok=HNvvhcrO)
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
A melanistic (all dark) Common Murre stands near the base of the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, 2017. See related paper published in the Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation at: http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/50_2/50_2_225-227.pdf.
![Two birds in the rocks, one with fish in it's mouth](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/COMU_Juv_Pac_herring_colony_Cook_Inlet_7-3-2017_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=tHhWua55)
A Common Murre holding a juvenile Pacific Herring at its colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 3, 2017.
A Common Murre holding a juvenile Pacific Herring at its colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 3, 2017.
![Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/DSC_0577ed.jpg?itok=-zpJYC7v)
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
Common Murres at their breeding colony on Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska. One of the murres standing next to egg.
An emaciated Common Murre lays on the laboratory table during a necropsy to determine the cause of death for a massive die-off of murres in 2015/2016.
An emaciated Common Murre lays on the laboratory table during a necropsy to determine the cause of death for a massive die-off of murres in 2015/2016.
![Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/DSC_1302ed_0.jpg?itok=ueaEM1h8)
Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
![Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/DSC_7885edit_0.jpg?itok=qLSIR6w2)
Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
A Horned Puffin taking off from the water
![A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on small fish in the water](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/flock_Black-legged_Kittiwakes_7-23-2016_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=txh5CLxW)
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
A flock of Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging on Pacific sand lance near Gull Island.
![Four birds standing on a ledge of rock](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/COMU_edge_of_colony_Cook_Inlet_7-23-2016_Sarah_Schoen.jpg?itok=Uemk8uA7)
Common Murres stand at the edge of their colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 23, 2016.
Common Murres stand at the edge of their colony on Gull Island, Cook Inlet on July 23, 2016.
Large amount of Common Murres in the water
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
A Horned Puffin flying over the water
Below are the publications associated with this project.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Below are news items associated with this project.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government